Lumixyl Active-Prep Cleanser and GlycoPeel- reviewed and recommended

Lumixyl’s signature product, the Topical Brightening Creme ($120), deserves to be recognized as a breakthrough product (it helps with the difficult job of diminishing hyperpigmentation, whilst using a safe active ingredient, as opposed to hydroquinone). However, as Copley pointed out in her original review of Lumixyl Topical Brightening Creme, it wins no accolades in the “natural” skincare department. It was in this context that I approached Lumixyl’s Active-Prep Gentle Foaming Cleanser ($35) and Luximyl GlycoPeel 20 Rapid Exfoliation Lotion ($60). I am willing to compromise a little for the sake of a good active. But for a cleanser, not likely. Happily, these Luxmixyl products didn’t demand too much in the way of compromise.

Actually, that is more true of the Active-Prep Cleanser than the GlycoPeel, but let me deal with the cleanser first. By and large, the ingredients are superb and this is a cleanser that is enjoyable to use and effective. If you like a foaming cleanser that really leaves your skin feeling clean, with your pores gently scoured, then this is the cleanser for you. It is one of the most cleansing of cleansers – lifting grime and grease and leaving the skin looking brighter – without being at all drying. I know scent is a personal thing, but I find the citrusy/bergamot vibe refreshing without being overpowering.

Lumixyl’s cleanser has some great botanical ingredients including antioxidant clover. Research from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) confirms that red clover extract contains four anti-tumor compounds. Red clover also contains the powerful antioxidant tocopherol, which is a form of vitamin E. There’s also fatty acid rich rosehip, soothing chamomile, anti-inflammatory sage (source) and phellodendron, a stalwart of Chinese medicine that is gaining a reputation with researchers as an anti-inflammatory and important antioxidant. The only thing not to like is the preservative, sodium benzoate.

I used GlycoPeel over Lumixyl’s Topical Brightening Creme, as instructed. I also tested it on areas where I am not using the cream, just to see how it performs. It is proving to be a very good exfoliant even used solo, based glycolic, malic, lactic and citric acids. Although it certainly tingles at first, it was not irritating (having said that I kept it well away from any areas prone to rosacea flareups. In the first few days, I had the distinct impression that it was speeding up the performance of the Whitening Cream (which I use along with LED green light).

GlycoPeel 20 is reinforced with useful antioxidants including green tea, wheat, algae, and yeast. I especially like symphytum officinale (comfrey root), which can speed up the replacement of skin cells as well as providing some protection against the sun, and plantain, a very good source of vitamins A and C and with a reputation for soothing irritated skin. The good things go on with amino acids, sodium hyaluronate and anti-inflammatory glucosamine HCL.

However, whereas Lumixyl’s cleanser is almost squeaky clean, GlycoPeel 20 is not for purists. There is, as the 7th ingredient, propylene glycol. This ingredient’s toxic effects are dose dependent and research has not demonstrated it to be very irritating. However, as our article on propylene glycol points out, it should not be used on damaged skin (although I wouldn’t put a glycolic acid product on damaged skin anyway). Lavender oil is a controversial ingredient that has been linked (but only by one study) to cancer. Amonium hydroxide is a pH adjuster and is an irritant and toxin, although the European Union deems it safe at concentrations up to 6%. And there is the ubiquitous irritant and possible neurotoxin, phenoxyethanol.

Overall, though, I feel that the good outweighs the bad in GlyoPeel 20 and that, in any case, this is a product that I use only in very small quantities to specifically target dark spots.

I personally try not to rush straight into the arms of a brand that wants me to buy the whole line in order to get optimal effects. Dark spots, melasma and hyperpigmentation are tough to treat though and the combination of Lumixyl's Brightening Cream with glycolic acid seems to make a lot of sense. I'm not convinced that the cleanser is a must have for synergistic reasons, but it is a really good cleanser in its own right, so why the heck not.

When I bought Lumixyl I bought the whole system, so it did include the Cleanser and GlycoPeel 20 and a MoistureLock Sunscreen SPF30. The Sunscreen is my least favorite of the whole system, it's heavy and leave a nice white film that in some lighting look like pancake make-up. Today I took mid-way photos and there is a visible difference already. I agree Marta! that the GlycoPeel does indeed speed up the performance of the Whitening Cream and that without it, it just wouldn't be as effective or would take forever. Again I am not using this system with a Sirius Aurora LED device...just on it's own.

Truth in Aging reviews anti-aging serums, moisturizers, eye creams and more. To find the best natural skincare, we test products for 30 days and share our experiences in objective reviews. Only products recommended by our community are sold in the Truth In Aging shop.